Today marks the United Nations-backed World Maritime Day which this year has a focus on safety at sea celebrating the 50th anniversary since the adoption of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) – the world’s most important treaty for the safety of merchant ships, something that can trace its origins all the way back to the sinking of the Titanic. Secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez said: “2024 marks 50 years since the SOLAS treaty was adopted. We can be proud of the crucial role this convention has played in setting international safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation, preventing maritime disasters and protecting lives. But we cannot be complacent. World Maritime Day calls for collective effort to ensure we keep pace with the ongoing transformation in shipping.” The safety convention was first adopted in 1914, in response to the Titanic disaster. The convention in force today was adopted on November 1 1974. In his message, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: “Today, the maritime sector is undergoing a profound transformation as it steers towards greater digitalisation, automation and decarbonisation. New technologies and designs offer the opportunity to make important contributions to climate action. I count on the commitment of regulators, seafarers and ship operators alike.” Among recent SOLAS amendments, starting January 1, 2026, ships will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); });